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Second, language and cultural barriers have historically prevented AAPI communities and community-based organizations from fully using federal resources and government services.

In 2007, I requested a study from the Government Accountability Office to explore federal agencies — efforts to provide linguistically and culturally competent services to these communities.

I have now seen the GAO's initial findings, and much remains to be done. Federal agencies need to increase access to those communities with limited English proficiency — particularly to AAPI communities, with their great diversity.

To help address this challenge, President Barack Obama reestablished the White House Initiative on AAPIs, first convened by President Bill Clinton, to develop a needs assessment and set of recommendations to make federal resources more accessible and effective in serving the AAPI community.

Two initial conclusions made by the original AAPI White House Commission remain germane. Specifically, all federal agencies need to do a better job of collecting and disaggregating data by language, race and ethnicity, so that we have more accurate information about growing Asian and other immigrant subpopulations.

In addition, greater access to federal programs for AAPIs and AAPI-serving organizations, by expanding language and culturally sensitive outreach and marketing efforts, is still needed. In working closely with Obama on this White House initiative, I am hopeful that lingering problems can be addressed.

As Congress moves to consider financial reform proposals, we must include strong provisions to require that lending institutions provide understandable materials to every potential customer.

We must also make our federal agencies more responsive and available to communities with limited English. We cannot afford to leave out immigrants and growing subpopulations in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community — or any other linguistically and culturally isolated community.

If we are to learn anything from this economic crisis, it is that we are only as strong as our weakest link. We must do everything in our power to ensure that all Americans, irrespective of language or financial capacity, have access to all our government resources.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) is the chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Readers' Comments (5)

If you read history at all you will know that the Bush administration warned Dodd and Frank about their shenanigans with Fannie and Freddie.

Also with HUD.

They (Fannie, Freddie and HUD) just up and screwed the poor.

Frank and Dodd kept their "baby" in control by arm twisting the banks to give 100% loans back in 2003.

No, No, Frank and Dodd said.....Fannie and Freddie are on solid ground in 2005.

When the ARM mortgages came about in 2007 and, into the future, it still will be felt by the taxpayers.

Banks are NOT excused but they found that money could be made by bundling those mortgages and selling them around the world. Destroying countries that thought that American backed mortgages were a safe investment.

So who is at fault?

Americans fell into Barney and Dodd's trap with NO MONEY DOWN.

Barney and Dodd started it, kept it going and now want to cover it up with NEW laws and NEW regulations, when they didn't "oversee" their buddies hiding the perfect storm.

Obama was the second largest beneficiary of Fannie and Freddie contributions.

Chris Dodd.......Countrywide fame who received "special" interest rates and was behind this Fannie and Freddie debacle along with Barney Frank in the House.

Fannie and Freddie paid bonuses of between $470,000 and $611,000 to Fannie Mae alone this year to some executives, despite enormous losses at the government-backed mortgage company.

Where was the outrage?.......Oh, I know.....Diverted towards AIG HOMES and family's with ACORN members the same day Fannie got their bonus.

Look no further than Barney Frank and Chris Dodd on this housing mess.

They are the ones who PUSHED ARM mortages and put the poor into this situation.

You can't lay all the blame on banks because they knew they were bad loans and got rid of them.

If we are to learn anything from this economic crisis, it is that we are only as strong as our weakest link. We must do everything in our power to ensure that all Americans, irrespective of language or financial capacity, have access to all our government resources

If we have learned anything it is that the government causes economic problems. People who move here should show respect and learn the language. It is not the governments job to be a Mommy and Daddy to immigrants. "Irrespective of financial capacity?" what are you saying? Social justice? Redistribution? Again "government resources" = taxpayer money. Nobody has a right to taxpayer money, politicians have perverted the tax system so much, we are heading toward more people receiving money from the government than people who pay taxes. Term limits is the only answer to correct our problems, no more politicians who are life timers.

As Congress moves to consider financial reform proposals, we must include strong provisions to require that lending institutions provide understandable materials to every potential customer.

Where is the responsibility of the borrower? If they need to understand, let them get a lawyer. If they can not afford about $500.00 for a lawyer, they sure can not afford to buy a home. We do not need or want a Mommy and Daddy state!! It is about time for people to take responsibility for their own lives and not look to the government (taxpayers) to take care of them. Enough!! It is ideas like this that is ruining this country. More and more people are depending upon government for everything.

Where is the responsibility of the borrowers? Maybe people who move here should learn English, should learn our culture. "Federal resources" you mean "taxpayer money". "Government services" you mean "welfare". The government caused this problem with the wrong type of regulations, not a lack of regulations.

First, minority communities, specifically immigrants and first-time homebuyers with limited English and little financial literacy, were targeted by predatory lenders.

What a bunch of bull. The people went to the banks for loans and the government, Dodd and Frank specifically, pushed the banks to make the loans. There were regulations that said a certain percentage of loans made HAD to go to low income minorities, that is fact.

There are some who will never be able to fund their homes because they probably shouldn't have been given loans to begin with.

But the larger percentage of people right now facing foreclosure were prime loans, but who are now getting kicked out because of unemployment to one of the breadwinners. It is that temporary unemployment which is preventing some folks from staying in their family homes.

So, how about a law to use a technique that is common in student loans: deferment. We could pass a law that if the President declares a 'recessionary emergency', then such a deferment option would go into effect among some mortgage holders: If a family has been making payments consistently for the last years, but now they are facing an economic downturn (unemployment, etc.), they would be eligible to defer their loans for up to three years. In that period, interest could accrue at a nominal rate (1-2%) and they would then pay it all back when they got on their feet. This would keep good people in their homes and still make them responsible for paying back what was owed.